Grab-bucket.



E. F. OYSTER.

GRAB BUCKET.

APPLICATION FILED, JAN. 30, 1914.

1,130,428, Baterited M3122, 1915.

2 SHEETS-SHEET l.

WITNESSE5 Q 7 INVENTOR W KMW K v my HE NORRIS PETERS cox. PHOTO-LITHQ, WASHINGTON, D. Cv

V E. F. OYSTER.

GRAB BUCKET.

ABPLIGATION FILED JAN.-30,'1914- 1,1 30,428. Y Patented Mar. 2, 1915.

2 SHBETSSHBET 2.

WITNESSES INVENTOR W 45 46m fla/jt/ WS WQMQL Cun @E NORRIS PETERS 50., PHOTGJJTHO. WASHINGTON. D. C

UNITED STATES PATENT @FFTQE.

EARL F. OYSTER, OF ALLIANCE, OHIO, ASSIGNOR TO THE ALLIANCE MACHINE COMPANY, OF ALLIANCE, OHIO, A CORPORATION OF OHIO.

GRAB-BUCKET.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Mar. 2, 1915..

Application filed January 30, 1914. Serial No. 815,439.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, EARL F. OYSTER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Alliance, in the county of Stark and State of Ohio, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Grab-Buckets, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, in which 7 Figure 1 is an end elevation of a grab bucket embodying my invention; Fig. 2 is a front elevation of a portion of the same, on a larger scale; and Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 1, but showing the bucket sections open.

My invention has relation to certain new and useful improvements in grab buckets; and is designed to provide a simple and effective means in the nature of an attachment to the bucket for overcoming the tendency of the bucket to hang out of plumb in opening.

The nature of my, invention will be best understood by reference to the accompanying drawings in which I have shown my invention applied to one form of grab bucket, and which will now be described, it being premised that my invention is applicable to other specific forms of grab buckets by relatively small changes in the details of construction of the buckets within the spirit and scope of the claims.

In these drawings the numerals 2 and 2 designate the two bucket sections of a bucket which is, in general, of a well known type, and the details of construction of which form no part of my invention. These bucket sections are respectively pivoted at 6 'to the arms 3 and a which are in turn pivoted on the transverse shaft 5. Each bucket section is also connected with the opposite arms by means of the links 6 and 7, said links 6 being fixedly connected to the bucket sections.

8 designates the two opening lines of the bucket, and 9 the two closing lines. The lines 8 pass downwardly under the sheaves 10, thence around the sheaves 11 with their end portions connected to the arm 4: at the points 8 Both of these sheaves are mounted on the arm 3. The closing lines 9 pass downwardly against the sheaves 11 thence around the sheaves 12 and 13 with their ends fixed at 14 to links 15 connected with the shaft 5.

The bucket is suspended on the four lines 8 and 9; and when the bucket is being hoisted in the closed position shown in Fig. 1, the load is carried on all four of these lines. As these ropes are equally distributed about the center of the bucket, the bucket will hang substantially vertical or plumb. To open the bucket it is necessary to hoist on the two opening lines'8. This releases the strain on the closing lines 9 when the bucket is in entirely open position, as shown in Fig. 3. Consequently the opening lines are off the center of the bucket and there is a tendency for the bucket to hang out of plumb. This not only requires more hoisting motion to entirely throw the ore or other material being handled from the bucket when it is fully opened; but it also throws one side of the bucket from the center line of the crane. In the case of a gauntree crane where the bucket has to pass between the legs of the gauntree, this re-' quires a wider spread of the legs. To overcome this objection, I attach to each of the arms 1 a suitably shaped bracket 16, rigidly attached to the arm, and having journaled thereto above the arm a sheave 17 which is rotatably mounted on the shaft 18 which connects the two brackets. These sheaves are in position to be brought into engagement with the opening lines 8 as the bucket opens. That is to say, as the arms 4 swing outwardly about the center of the shaft 5, the sheaves 17 will describe arcsof circles and will be forced against the opening ropes 8, thereby forcing said ropes over until they are substantially in line with the vertical center of the bucket. This is clearly shown in Fig. 3. As the bucket in this position is carried by the opening lines, or ropes, the bucket hangs practically plumb, giving the advantages above described. The bucket will empty its load with less movement of the opening lines, for the reason that each of the bucket sections carries a certain amount of material. If the bucket does not hang plumb, one of the bucket sections will retain some of the material longer than the other', and this accentuates the unbalancing of the bucket.

The advantages of my invention will be apparent to those familiar with the operation of grab buckets, since it provides means of extremely simple character which can be readily applied to existing ibuckets; and which effectually overcomes the difiiculties above described.

I claim l. A grab bucket of the type having separate opening and closing cables, of a member attached to the said bucket and adapted toniove inwardto engage the opening cable to force it toward the vertical center of the bucket as the bucket opens; substantially as described.

2. The'combination with a grab bucket of the type having separate opening and closing'cables, and having pivotedmembers carrying the bucket sections, of a device attached to one of said pivoted members and adapted to engage the opening lines of the bucket as the bucket is opened, and thereby fiopieszof athispatent maybe obtained for deflect said lines to-a positionover the verticalcenter of the bucket; substantially as described.

3. The combination with a grab bucket having separate opening and closing lines, and pivoted members ca rying the bucket sections, of a bracket secured to one of said pivoted members, and a sheave journaled on said bracket and adapted to engage an opening line to deflect the line toward the center of the bucket as the bucket is opened; substantially as described.

In testimony whereof,

my hand.

EARL F. OYSTER.

l-have hereunto set Witnesses:

Bnssm WRIGHT, J. J. BROWN.

five cents each, by addressing the fiommissioner of Patents,

Washington, I). 5. 

